So there needs to be a story, and since I'm no good at programming and focus on military/business endeavors, I would like to offer a few ideas:

At the end of the game, there were reports of blue machines self-destructing all over their empire. What if there was a pod that had damage to it due to a more inhospitable area and therefore did not receive/follow out the instructions and continued operations?

What if the original red machines de-armed themselves in order to repurpose resources and technology to further colonize the galaxy, and ran into the area that the corrupt colony was established? Nukes would be used to quickly clear dangerous asteroids, plasma used to cut through metals more effectively, explosive material used to blast away rock to access resources... etc.

The original controller purged memory of all military tactics and technology (and its application), as well as got rid of the experimental AI that was used to win the original campaign.

What if the corrupt colony developed shielding technology that allowed it to operate in the hostile environment?

There could also be twists such as humans arriving, or finding life on some of the other planets. Maybe even re-visiting battlefields to salvage research, for example, having and entire battle over which race can salvage APC technology from the crashed APC from the mission "Behind Enemy Lines" so that the races could be more mobile.

Make the machines upgradable; i.e. giving civilian machines rudimentary means of defending themselves. Or being able to shunt power to their motors in order to escape quicker, at the expense of their shields/armor.

Make the machines upgradable; i.e. giving civilian machines rudimentary means of defending themselves. Or being able to shunt power to their motors in order to escape quicker, at the expense of their shields/armor.

I always dreamed of Technicians holding energy swords, ruthlessy charging at my opponents before they could even react.
No, really, I did.

"So there needs to be a story, and since I'm no good at programming and focus on military/business endeavors, I would like to offer a few ideas:

At the end of the game, there were reports of blue machines self-destructing all over their empire. What if there was a pod that had damage to it due to a more inhospitable area and therefore did not receive/follow out the instructions and continued operations?
..."

This actually happened to me. One blue reaper remained active.

I proposed the idea of a storyline before but decided to focus on a trailer for Open Machines, etc., so there was nothing... until now! Your focus on military/business endeavors will be very useful!
I guess that you have a copy of this masterpiece:
(I love this book.)

I like ideas 1, 5 & 6.

I would recommend the use of scripts, storyboards, and concept art, with references to other types of media (music, etc.) if necessary, and anything that can help us describe and portray ideas.

In-game economics could be implemented within the game: "trading" with the controller's other colonies on the same planet, or even between entire planets & systems could help the player set up a colony much faster, and administer the race's resources according to strategic needs (this could be optional, or even a game mode, with its own achievements). Also, this would enable the player to call for reinforcements (which would take a while to reach their destination) or request resources.
Furthermore, the player could have his/her own empire, with unique solar systems within the galaxy(s).

@bilal @Encrypted @Aquarillis
A multiplayer for this game mode would cause techical problems or be almost impossible for us to develop/maintain?

@Pisarz
I think multiplayer with this could be overcomplicating matches and removing (high level) competitive play, but depending on what route would want to take, if we do a single player after skirmish/multiplayer is done, it could be an interesting scenario mode or something employed in a campaign. Maybe it could just be a territory control mode with fights for control of a certain territory?

On an unrelated note, I also wanted to apologize for lack of communication or dev updates on OM development. I've been busy with personal projects etc... so I have limited free time for the game. However, I'm going to do more significant work on the game very soon.